The flu season typically sees an increase in absenteeism at the
workplace, impacting work schedules and productivity.
Almost 68,000 cases of flu were recorded across Australia in 2014,
marking the highest number in any year to date. According to the CIPD, 81 per
cent of absences are due to short-term illness caused by flu or cold and may
include even non-genuine illnesses. Businesses should be prepared to deal
effectively with the consequences of these one-off illness situations by
tracking employee absence.
Absenteeism can prove very expensive for the company if left unchecked.
The costs of repeated short-term absences can add up from having to shell out sick
pay to the absent employee; organise temporary cover of a shift; pay overtime
costs; and risk lost production and service.
Short-term absences also impact the productivity of managers and
supervisors who can spend up to an hour calling staff to cover for the absent
employee, adding up to over 200 hours a year of wasted management time. The
company also has to deal with lower productivity when they are forced to replace
shifts and train new replacement workers at short notice.
Organisations can greatly reduce the costs of absence by tapping into
their workforce more effectively. Mitrefinch employee time and attendance
software can help businesses track important employee data about absences as
well as quickly check the system for potential replacements to cover a shift. The
time and attendance system can also help them set up a meeting with the absent
employee once they return to work.
